Welcome Remarks

 
Cosette V. Canilao
Executive Director, Public-Private Partnership Center
LGU Public-Private Partnership Forum
For Visayas and Mindanao Regions
March 26, 2012, 8:00 – 5:00
Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center, Iloilo City

Welcome to the LGU Public-Private Partnership Forum. We are very happy to stage this event here in the Visayas, not only for the fact that I hail from here, but more so because we believe that there are vast opportunities for developing and implementing infrastructure projects through public-private partnerships here in the Visayas and Mindanao.

It is our goal at the PPP Center to reach out and bring to you the good news about public-private partnerships, as well as the information and skills necessary in pursuing your own PPP projects.

We designed this Forum to maximize the transfer of information and knowledge from PPP practitioners who have successfully implemented PPP projects. We also included subject matter experts who are tasked today to walk you through the entire process from conceptualization to implementation.

We encourage you to ask the tough questions, and seek guidance from our experts who will be joining us today.

We will also be handing out useful information materials and tools that we hope will trigger your interest further and galvanize you into processing and developing your PPP project.

For the past year that we have been conducting trainings on PPP and in fora such as these, we have seen the renewed interest to work and partner with the private sector to pursue projects that normally would not be feasible under the usual government funding mechanisms.

The PPP Program is anchored in good governance and we view the interest in PPP both from government and from the private sector as a validation of President Aquino’s “daang matuwid” advocacy. Today, the business landscape is teeming with opportunities for partnership. The market is ripe for good business and investor confidence in the Philippines is experiencing an all-time high.

Now is the time to act and to act swiftly. The PPP Center is here to help you make that decision into a solid and well-structured plan of action.

Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, with this bit of encouragement in mind, let us get the ball rolling, so to speak, and let our sharing of information and knowledge begin.

Madamo nga salamat. Maayong aga sa tanan.